Is it a Mercedes or a Kia?

[BBDartCA]

Was in Canada recently and was surprised to see the Mercedes B Series econobox. I've seen these in Europe with plastic hub caps and cheap interiors. Seems to really bring down the Mercedes brand image. Seems to be marketed in Canada to the overly brand conscious types. Are these coming to the USA? With a diesel I hope at least.

 

[needsducktape]

Not cool MB, not cool.

But even Porsche did the econ-o-[censored] in the early 80s

924 yakkkkkk

 

[Lead Shoes]

Looks like [censored], certainly not what I think of when I think MB..

 

[Patman]

I almost got run over by one of those tonight when I was rollerblading!

 

[daves87rs]

Yikes!

 

[The motor guy]

Almost looks like a toyota prius. Just a little taller.

 

[Brons2]

You guys are way too elitist. Those things are all over the place in Germany. Those and the A series too! Sorry it doesn't fit your mental image for Mercedes, but they have been making small cars for a long time.

 

[hhu168]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
Almost looks like a toyota prius. Just a little taller.


Now that you mentioned it, yes, it's true.

 

[BBDartCA]

Leave those baby Mercedes for the Euro trash. This is the USA where we know how to Donk a MB.

 

[JHZR2]

Wow, they sure got everyone duped on "brand image" here. Most all MBs had hubcaps here in the US until the late 1970s. MB sells tractor trailers and buses in the rest of the world. Not here. Why? Brand image. A fool and their money is quickly departed.

Since Ive had such great luck, longevity and low TCO driving 30 YO MB cars, I personally wish they WOULD send more low cost, simple MB cars over. It would set the bar yet higher for the other manufacturers.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
Almost looks like a toyota prius. Just a little taller.

That's what a European minivan looks like. Since the Europeans don't weigh 300-400 lbs each, they fit in it just fine.

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Wow, they sure got everyone duped on "brand image" here. Most all MBs had hubcaps here in the US until the late 1970s. MB sells tractor trailers and buses in the rest of the world. Not here. Why? Brand image. A fool and their money is quickly departed.

Since Ive had such great luck, longevity and low TCO driving 30 YO MB cars, I personally wish they WOULD send more low cost, simple MB cars over. It would set the bar yet higher for the other manufacturers.


I was going to say something but you summed it up nicely.

Doesn't BMW offer lots of hatchbacks the world over, but BMW USA won't import them because it cheapens the brand image?

Remember folks, the US importer does not equal the car maker at large.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Doesn't BMW offer lots of hatchbacks the world over, but BMW USA won't import them because it cheapens the brand image?

Not sure about hatchbacks, but they've resisted bringing diesel engines here for the longest time partly because BMW NA thought that diesel somehow does not jive with the "Ultimate Driving Machine" performance image on this side of the Atlantic.

 

[Falcon_LS]

Those are actually quite nice cars to drive, abeit a little overpriced. But then again Mercedes quality is built in, so it's not exactly a case of buying a cheap, stripped down car like a Daihatsu Sirion or something along the lines.

 

[PandaBear]

I think if you discard the badge of MB and look at the quality of their vehicles, they are not really "Luxury" until you hit E class and above. The rest of the lines are very "every day" vehicles like any other brand. Think of it as Volvo, they have semi, small cars, luxury vehicles, etc.

 

[Spazdog]

I thought you were talking about these:

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Most all MBs had hubcaps here in the US until the late 1970s.


But they were tasteful. Chromed and beautifully enameled quality steel. Not silver metal flake painted plastic frisbees.

 

[addyguy]

Those things are all over the place up here, nothing 'new' about them.

You Americans are just behind the times, as usual....

 

[97tbird]

I don't mind well shaped hatchbacks at all, but this one is just ... ugh

 

[Dave Hess]

The wheels look like they came off a Honda Fit.

This baby Benz would be a great selling car in the USA.